Reflective Essay on Academic Skills, Strengths, and Future Challenges

This reflective essay, written by a first-year marketing student, delves into the academic skills acquired at university, including time management, public speaking, and technical proficiency. A SWOT analysis reveals strengths such as adaptability, responsibility, and research skills, alongside weaknesses like active listening and procrastination. The essay explores opportunities for continuing education and career development, while also acknowledging potential threats to learning. Strategies for becoming a better learner, such as setting clear goals and avoiding distractions, are discussed. The essay further addresses future challenges, including adjusting to new surroundings and managing expenses, and suggests abilities like critical thinking and collaboration to overcome them. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of enhancing academic skills and replacing procrastination with prioritization for future career growth, highlighting how weaknesses can be transformed into strengths to build confidence. Desklib offers a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and past papers.

Reflective essay

Table of Contents
INTRDOUCTION...............................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY.......................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
I am a first year student studying marketing where I have learned various
academic skills, knowledge and creativity at the university. I have done my SWOT
analysis to know about my strength which I gained during the course of my study. I
have improved the skills of time management that assist me in organising and
scheduling my time effectively. I have known the way of public speaking which made me
a good communicator and help me to make good presentation. I also developed the
technical skills which help me to understand the functions of computer performance in
class. I also learned how to make cooperation with group and my classmates as well.
MAIN BODY
I have formulated the skills of adaptability which assist me in adjusting with the
new environment and surroundings. I also became responsible and accountable for the
work which is given to me. I learned research skills which I usually require to find
credible sources and effective strategies for my career. I have improved reading which I
used for test, perform research and write papers skills. I even developed self-discipline
skills to motivate myself for performing the task or work. I also got the skill of critical
thinking which assist me in analysing information or situation and allow me to solve
problems or understanding the concept. I also added multitasking skills which help to
complete my various assignments of my classes.
But I also have few weaknesses such as I am not an active listener and
sometimes I have clarity problems which make my confidence level low. Sometimes, I
procrastinate my work or assignments as well when it seems to be very easy. I get
problem in preparing and arranging my assignments for completion or study task. I have
poor concentration that interrupt my learning as well as studying.
With the help of learning, I can get various opportunities of continuing education
courses with scholarships. Learning would provide career development where I can get
good placement in a reputed organisation. I can also get an opportunity of being a
coach, mentor and a leader in a business concern.
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There are threats which may interrupt my source of learning such as the policies,
practices and system may create hindrances in my research project. The higher cost of
commutation may discontinue my learning in other countries.
There are many ways where I can become a better learner such as I can be
enthusiastic where I can motivate myself to perform my work in better way. I should shut
off or avoid distraction around my surroundings for more concentration. I have to set
clear goals of completing my work or assignments and plan to reach them. I should
make good network with people and associated with them for future success. I should
not compare myself with others because each person has its own purpose and qualities.
Instead of comparing, I should keep focus on learning to face the challenges of the
future and overcome them. I should experiment with the new approaches when I have
challenge before me. Learning should not be stopped so I can learn it from anywhere
and anyone regardless of age, experience, education, and so on.
There are various reason to be a good learner which help me in finding new
opportunities for the growth in future and encourage self-development. I would be able
to find new ways to perform my work with creativity and learn various method to solve
problems. I would be able to face difficulties which may occur in future and be able to
communicate with anyone. Learning make my productivity better because I would be
able to change my perspective towards the changing thing. Learning make me more
valuable for the people and even for the organisation where I would provide my services
effectively. Learning helps me taking responsibilities and encourages to fulfil my
commitment of completing task with in a specific time period. Learning helps me to keep
my mind active to analyse the environment and finding out the opportunities for career
growth. I would be able to acquire knowledge and skills with learning process and would
able to provide information to others.
There are many challenges which I may face in future such as new surroundings
where I would get problem in adjusting with the new environment. I will have to meet
with new people for interaction such as class mates and lecturers whereby I will have to
find ways to accommodate new friendship while still maintaining old fellow. The other
challenge which I may face is scheduling for the assignments given by each profess for
which I have to create time for the study groups and other academic tasks. I will have to
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meet with lot of expense of education or personal expenses which may include rent,
food, utilities and even some money for entertainment, therefore I need to find ways to
get over these challenges.
I can overcome these challenges through several abilities such as power of
critical thinking and problem solving which can assist me in formulation of own solution.
The ability to think and act promptly is a necessary tool for the future challenges. The
ability to collaborate with others and lead them may help me in advancing and become
more successful career development. This would enable splitting of task among the
group that can be done well without any obstacle. I can be agile and adopt adaptability
to cope up with the new environment which will make me comfortable with the new
thought of alteration. I will prepare myself to take initiative to encourage my skills and
shaping my experience in the classroom. I need to improve my verbal or written
communication so that I would be able to make understand others without mistakes. I
need to develop analytical skills to examine the information available on the internet so
that it can provide me better understanding and opinion related to the project.
CONCLUSION
I have concluded from the above essay that I need to enhance and improve my
academic skill to overcome the challenges which I may face in career growth and its
improvement. I need to replace procrastination with prioritisation so that work can be
done in time. I need to improve my listening skills by understanding the fact clearly. In
this way my weaknesses can be my skills which assist in developing confidence in me.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hergüner, B., 2021. Rethinking public administration education in the period of
pandemic: Reflections of public administration students on online education
through a SWOT analysis. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 41.p.100863.
Khamidi, A., 2020. SWOT Analysis of the Postgraduate Program Faces the New
Standard of University Accreditation in Indonesia Cases. Journal of Talent
Development and Excellence, 12(1).pp.5186-5198.
Liu, S., Liang, W., Onuma, M. and Rithkerd, T., 2022. A study of the academic
challenges faced by the Western students in Chinese universities. International
Journal of Educational Development, 90.p.102557.
Hodge, B., Wright, B. and Bennett, P., 2018. The role of grit in determining engagement
and academic outcomes for university students. Research in Higher
Education, 59(4).pp.448-460.
Soruç, 2021. Students’ academic language-related challenges in English Medium
Instruction: The role of English proficiency and language
gain. System, 103.p.102651.
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